Skeletal Family

Skeletal Family were a gothic rock band which formed in Keighley, West Yorkshire, England in December, 1982. The band formed from the remaining membership of an earlier group, called The Elements, and took their name from the title of the song "Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family" from the 1974 David Bowie album, Diamond Dogs.

The original lineup of the band was Anne-Marie Hurst (vocals), Stan Greenwood (guitar), Roger 'Trotwood' Nowell (bass), Ian "Karl Heinz" Taylor (keyboard/sax), and Steve Crane (drums). In 1984, the band signed on to indie label Red Rhino and recorded their first single for Red Rhino, "The Night," just after losing their original drummer Steve Crane. Crane was replaced by Howard Daniels. Daniels was soon replaced by Martin Henderson (formerly of The Last Laugh). Skeletal Family's first album "Burning Oil" was released by Red Rhino in the autumn of 1984. The band began touring with the likes of The Sisters of Mercy during the Sisters' First and Last and Always tour. The group released "Futile Combat" in 1985 along with the "Promised Land" single. The group then signed with Chrysalis Records and Anne-Marie Hurst along with Martin Henderson left the band to develop new projects. Anne-Marie Hurst would eventually team up with Gary Marx in Ghost Dance. Martin Henderson teamed up with ex-March Violets vocalist Simon D to create The Batfish Boys. Vocalist Katrina Phillips replaced Anne-Marie Hurst and Kevin Hunter replaced Martin Henderson. The remaining members of the group soon disbanded after being dropped from the Chrysalis label. In 2002, Skeletal Family reformed. After reforming they played several high profile shows including the Wave-Gotik-Treffen three times and Drop Dead New York.

Skeletal Family's last album, Love, Hope and Despair, was released in September 2009. Two months later the group announced that they had disbanded again.

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